Amazon Closes Charity Program AmazonSmile: What You Need to Know
In February 2023, Amazon made the decision to close its popular charity program, AmazonSmile, after a decade in operation. This move came as a surprise to many customers who had been using the program to support their favorite charities while shopping on Amazon.
Investment in Other Impact Initiatives
In an email sent to customers in January 2023, Amazon explained that although AmazonSmile would no longer be available, the company remained committed to making a meaningful impact in other areas. Some of the initiatives they mentioned included investing in affordable housing, computer science education, and assisting communities affected by natural disasters.
The Legacy of AmazonSmile
Launched in 2013, AmazonSmile allowed customers to shop through the website smile.amazon.com, with 0.5% of their purchases going to a charity of their choice. Over the years, numerous 501(c)(3) public charitable organizations participated in the program, such as the World Wildlife Fund, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. By December 2022, AmazonSmile had contributed a staggering $449 million.
However, Amazon stated that the program had not created the impact it had anticipated, as their ability to make a significant difference was spread too thin among millions of charities worldwide.
The Road Ahead
Although AmazonSmile is no longer active, Amazon assured customers that their commitment to supporting charities and communities remained strong. Their ongoing initiatives include investments in the Housing Equity Fund, the Amazon Future Engineer program for computer science education, the Community Delivery Program to deliver meals to families, and Amazon Disaster Relief.
The Context
The decision to close AmazonSmile coincided with a challenging period for Amazon. The company experienced significant financial difficulties, leading to a series of layoffs throughout late 2022 and spring 2023, which affected tens of thousands of tech jobs, marking the biggest layoffs in the company’s history.
AmazonSmile officially ceased operations on February 20, 2023. Although customers will miss the program, it is clear that Amazon is dedicated to finding new ways to make a positive impact on communities and causes that matter.
